MALDI-FTMS

Another interesting comparison has recently been made between MALDI-TOF MS analysis of whole cells, and MALDI FTMS of the same organisms. This work is reported in greater detail in a dedicated chapter later in this book. It should be noted here that it appears to be much more difficult to obtain spectra from intact bacteria by MALDI FTMS than it is by MALDI-TOF MS. Thus far only a single research group has reported protein-like ions desorbed directly from intact cells by MALDI FTMS. 

An interesting variation on the whole-cell MALDI approach was recently reported in a study aimed more at FTMS than TOF MS, but the results are nevertheless interesting and important to users of both methods for analysis of bacteria 40. Wilkins s group showed both MALDI-TOF and MALDI-FTMS spectra of whole bacteria grown on isotopic media depleted in C13 and N14. Because most bacterial identification protocols involve a culture step prior to analysis, it is possible to manipulate the sample based on control of the growth media. For mass spectral analysis manipulation of the isotope profile... 

FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPLEX BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS 13.3.1 Whole-Cell MALDI-FTMS Analysis... 

WHOLE-CELL CHARACTERIZATION THROUGH MALDI-FTMS... 

Figure 13.4 Low-mass lipid region of the 9.4 T MALDI-FTMS spectrum of...

Bacterial proteins from MALDI FTMS experiments are identifiable using the Swiss-Prot database.53 In order to identify any microorganism, it is neces-... 

Figure 13.8 MALDI-FTMS spectrum of E. coli in natural abundance media (black) and >98.00% 1SN and >99.95% 12C media (blue).

Although ribosomal proteins are readily observed as in Figures 13.7 and 13.8 altered matrix conditions can alter the relative ionization of bacterial whole-cell compounds. A systematic analysis involving laser power/fluence and sample preparation conditions reveals that if the concentrated trifluo-roacetic acid is added and the laser power increased above optimal conditions, ionization of bacterial surface compounds can be enhanced. Figure 13.9 is the resulting 9.4 T MALDI-FTMS, seen are both the Braun s lipoprotein56,57 and the Murein lipoprotein. Both of these compounds are complex combinations of hydrocarbon lipids attached to a protein base. This is the first MALDI-FTMS observation of surface proteins desorbed directly from whole cells by influencing ionization conditions. 

The utility of MALDI-FTMS analysis for use in chemotaxonomic applications has been established, but this method can be applied to other areas of interest, such as biomedical and environmental analyses. A common method used by biochemists and biologists today is recombinant overexpression of proteins using bacterial whole cells in cases where large quantity of a protein is desired. The main method presently used to determine if the overexpression was successful is the use of SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecylsulfate-poly acrylamide gel... 

As noted with the chemotaxonomic studies, the limited resolving power and mass accuracy of MALDI-TOF complicates identification of unknown proteins. If the greatly improved resolving power and accuracy of MALDI-FTMS can be used to monitor overexpressed proteins, it could have significant advantages. Figure 13.12 is a MALDI-FTMS spectrum of E. coli whole cells that have been genetically altered to produce the soluble core domain mammalian cytochrome b5 protein, which consists of 98 amino acids. 

The results for bacterial whole-cell analysis described here establish the utility of MALDI-FTMS for mass spectral analysis of whole-cell bacteria and (potentially) more complex single-celled organisms. The use of MALDI-measured accurate mass values combined with mass defect plots is rapid, accurate, and simpler in sample preparation then conventional liquid chromatographic methods for bacterial lipid analysis. Intact cell MALDI-FTMS bacterial lipid characterization complements the use of proteomics profiling by mass spectrometry because it relies on accurate mass measurements of chemical species that are not subject to posttranslational modification or proteolytic degradation. 

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